To the editor:

 

While CNN and the McClathy news conglomerate breathe sighs of relief from accusations of reckless disregard for the facts with hopes of gaining Pulitzer recognition, the Wainstein report hardly gives the oldest state-supported university any respite from the withering investigations by the NCAA, Martin Law Firm, SBI and UNC over the past six years. In short, the Wainstein report confirms the Martin report.

Ms. Crowder’s version of affirmative action hardly excuses her role in creating paper courses for student athletes any more than Ms. Willingham should be excuse for unethical research. The ends simply do not justify the means. Blaming 18-year-old athletes and Ms. Crowder may sell airtime and newspapers, unfortunately, these transgressions are symptomatic of a failed public education system that graduates high school students, who are marginally verbal and university academia that rejects any notion of oversight.

The problem becomes much clearer if ‘athlete’ is removed from the exhaustive investigations. The glee with which these reports have been received is only exceeded by the hypocrisy of other institutions. With student loans exceeding one trillion dollars, a college degree can hardly withstand cost/benefit analysis regardless of whether the graduate is an athlete or not. Professors, politicians, administrators and those who have profited from skyrocketing tuitions and continue to clamor for more expensive education rather than better education should not only be ashamed, they should be held accountable.

Joe Exum

Snow Hill, N.C.